Frost & Sullivan: Service Sector Offers New Opportunities for Mature Personal Protective Footwear Market in Western Europe
-- Providing other protective equipment and peripheral services will add significant value to manufacturer's product portfolio
LONDON, May 26, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The mature Western European protective footwear market is seeing an influx of cheap imports from low-cost manufacturing bases. While end users seek cheap products, they also want durability and complementary services tailored to their needs. As a result, the spotlight has turned to protective footwear producers that offer a holistic product and service portfolio.
New analysis from Frost & Sullivan, Analysis of the Western European Protective Footwear Market, finds that the market earned revenues of $1.10 billion in 2013 and estimates this to reach $1.15 billion in 2017. The study covers the manufacturing, construction, oil and gas, mining, and services end-user segments.
Enhancing awareness on the use of protective footwear in all sectors is essential to drive adoption. Concerted efforts are already underway by governments and regulatory bodies to promote health and safety at the workplace. Policies and grants have made it easier for employers to provide adequate protective equipment for their employees.
"Educating end users on the cost benefits of purchasing higher value products with longer lifetimes will be crucial for long-term success," said Frost & Sullivan Chemicals, Materials and Food Consulting Analyst Dr. Michael Mbogoro. "The service sector, in particular, is under-penetrated and must be a focus area for these efforts."
A large share of the market, however, is taken up by distributor consortiums that offer a wider variety of products and price ranges than any one European-based footwear manufacturer. These purchasing consortiums import cheap alternatives from low-cost centres abroad and sell them directly to end users. Hence, they have significant influencing power over manufacturers in terms of cost, and as a result, they intensify competition in an already mature market.
In order to stay competitive, manufacturers must expand their product and service portfolio to include customised solutions and value-added services. This is crucial as changing workforce demographics lead to a gradual rejection of a one-size-fits-all approach.
"Innovation in design and the incorporation of unique functionalities are key to product differentiation and validation of the higher EU-based prices," noted Dr. Mbogoro. "While style and fashion will remain sought-after, ergonomic designs that promote health and wellness will be preferred."
If you are interested in more information on this study, please send an e-mail to Julia Nikishkina, Corporate Communications, at julia.nikishkina@frost.com, with your full name, company name, job title, telephone number, company e-mail address, company website, city, state and country.
Analysis of the Western European Protective Footwear Market is part of the Chemicals & Materials (http://www.chemicals.frost.com) Growth Partnership Service program. Frost & Sullivan's related studies include: The Role of Specialist Distributors in the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Market—North America and Western Europe, Asia-Pacific Above the Neck PPE Market, Americas Oil and Gas Personal Protective Equipment Market, and Brazilian and Colombian Fall Protection Market. All studies included in subscriptions provide detailed market opportunities and industry trends evaluated following extensive interviews with market participants.
About Frost & Sullivan
Frost & Sullivan, the Growth Partnership Company, works in collaboration with clients to leverage visionary innovation that addresses the global challenges and related growth opportunities that will make or break today's market participants.
Our "Growth Partnership" supports clients by addressing these opportunities and incorporating two key elements driving visionary innovation: The Integrated Value Proposition and The Partnership Infrastructure.
- The Integrated Value Proposition provides support to our clients throughout all phases of their journey to visionary innovation including: research, analysis, strategy, vision, innovation and implementation.
- The Partnership Infrastructure is entirely unique as it constructs the foundation upon which visionary innovation becomes possible. This includes our 360 degree research, comprehensive industry coverage, career best practices as well as our global footprint of more than 40 offices.
For more than 50 years, we have been developing growth strategies for the global 1000, emerging businesses, the public sector and the investment community. Is your organisation prepared for the next profound wave of industry convergence, disruptive technologies, increasing competitive intensity, Mega Trends, breakthrough best practices, changing customer dynamics and emerging economies?
Contact Us: Start the discussion
Subscribe: Newsletter on "the next big thing"
Register: Gain access to visionary innovation
Analysis of the Western European Protective Footwear Market
M93D-39
Julia Nikishkina
Corporate Communications – Europe
P: +7 (499) 213 0156
E: julia.nikishkina@frost.com
LinkedIn: Future of Chemicals - A Frost & Sullivan Forum
http://www.frost.com
Share this article